NCAA Basketball: 20 sophomores under pressure to break out in 2020-21

Zane Meeks – Nevada Wolf Pack

With 22 ppg scoring star Jalen Harris gone, along with do-it-all point guard Lindsey Drew, that leaves plenty of opportunities for the returning core of players to have big campaigns. That includes the 6’10 Meeks, who averaged a solid 6.4 ppg and 3.7 rpg in limited minutes.

He’s great as a stretch-four option, with 2/3 of his shot attempts coming from three-point range, making 36% of them. Outside of going for double figures in four out of five games, Meeks had trouble being a consistent contributor. But considering that he’s the lead returning scorer on the team, he’ll have to have a big sophomore campaign if Nevada wants to be in the top-tier of the Mountain West next season.

Isaiah Mobley – USC Trojans

Rightfully so, there’s a ton of talk about Evan Mobley, arguably the top frontcourt player in all of the 2020 recruiting class. But don’t forget about his brother, Isaiah, a former top-25 prospect in his own right who averaged 6.2 ppg and 5.3 rpg in 21 mpg last season. There will be some who would say that the 6’10 big man underachieved but considering that the starting frontcourt featured both Nick Rakocevic and star freshman Onyeka Okongwu, it’s hard to see where Mobley would’ve been able to produce more.

But with both of them gone, the frontcourt will primarily feature just the Mobley brothers. And being the one with D-I experience, Isaiah will have the chance to be a much more featured player in the offense. If things go well, we can see both players end up declaring for the 2021 NBA Draft.